The day the music died

[7dogguy]

is associated with the loss of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in 1959, but for me it could also be associated with the soon to be 30th anniversary of the death of John Lennon on December 8 1980.

Do you remember where you were (looking at ages, some of our folks were in grade school or still a gleam in their parents eyes:))?

I was a young Sailor, living the good life in South Texas (NAS Kingsville) at my second duty station (first was overseas, Okinawa). It was unreal to hear about Lennon's death and everytime I hear the song "Lunatic Fringe", the original version by Red Rider, I think of that shooting.

Of course, now we can get Beatles music on iTunes - in 1980, such as digital music was was still a dream of some software guys (yeah, I remember the first desk tops with their disk boot and whopping 40 MEGAbyte harddrives)

So where were you in December 1980?

[Jasongar8]

Six years away from being born.

[7dogguy]

Six years away from being born.

The gleam in your parents eye category, then, LOL.

[Volzfan]

I don't remember exactly what I was doing like some other events during my life. I was 23 at that time and was not a big Beatles fan or a big JL fan. That doesn't mean that I turned off the radio when their songs played, I just didn't buy it. As I have grown older I realize the impact that they had on the music industry.

[Guest db99wj]

I was 8. Waiting on Christmas, following my brother around, listening to Ozzy, Ted Nugent, Molly Hatchet, Etc. Oh and riding my bike all over my town of 15k without fear.

[Guest Sgt. Joe]

I was watching Monday night football and someone made a field goal. Howard Cossell (sp?) was announcing and it went something like this.

"The kick is up and it is...it is... good and by the way John Lennon was shot to death tonight outside his New York city apartment, did you see that kick?" and then on and on about the game and such.

I had to turn to the now EX and say,"did he just say what I thought he said"......sadly he had.

It is possible that it was not a Monday, but I dont think they were doing Thurs and Sun. Night games back then and that is definitely how I got the news.

[trblmkr13]

I was in 1st Grade in a little town just outside of Fort Gordon Ga.

[7dogguy]

I was 8. Waiting on Christmas, following my brother around, listening to Ozzy, Ted Nugent, Molly Hatchet, Etc. Oh and riding my bike all over my town of 15k without fear.

Ted Nugent was one of the best live shows I ever saw - that guy had a LOT of energy. Of course, that was when both he and I were much younger.

[7dogguy]

I was watching Monday night football and someone made a field goal. Howard Cossell (sp?) was announcing and it went something like this.

"The kick is up and it is...it is... good and by the way John Lennon was shot to death tonight outside his New York city apartment, did you see that kick?" and then on and on about the game and such.

I had to turn to the now EX and say,"did he just say what I thought he said"......sadly he had.

It is possible that it was not a Monday, but I dont think they were doing Thurs and Sun. Night games back then and that is definitely how I got the news.

Yeah, it was crazy. I like some of the music but as another poster stated, the iimpact of that group is wide-reachiing. And the nut case, Mark David Chapman, just walking up and killing him - very unreal.

[Guest Revelator]

I was too young to know, understand, or really even care. I do remember my parents having some Beatles 8 tracks around that time, so it probably affected them some. For my generation it was Kurt Cobain. Was never a huge Nirvana fan, and it's hard to compare him to Lennon, but that was a big deal.

[Guest Ae-35]

It was my first night on patrol, as a reserve deputy in Bakersfield. The news came over the radio, I couldn't believe it, who would want to kill him? Sad.

[bockey]

I was living in Owensboro Ky at the time. Got off 3rd shift and went to a friend's house after work. Picked up the paper in his front yard to take it in and saw the news. Went inside and we both just set there in shock. Spent most of the day watching CNN. I remember the Beatles the first time on Ed Sullivan, so I guess that makes me a dinosaur huh?

[Murgatroy]

I was too young to know, understand, or really even care. I do remember my parents having some Beatles 8 tracks around that time, so it probably affected them some. For my generation it was Kurt Cobain. Was never a huge Nirvana fan, and it's hard to compare him to Lennon, but that was a big deal.

Same here, I was too young.

Comparing Cobain to Lennon is a stretch, but for impact his short career had, it is not such a stretch. I think the comparison comes from extreme change that occurred in at that time, which Nirvana (rightly or wrongly) is credited with started. There were better bands of that era, both artistically and effectively, however Cobain and Nirvana will always be remembered the most.

The biggest contrast in the Lennon/Cobain comparison is that the Beatles had for intents and purposes already run their course, and affected the changes that occurred. Nirvana, if they were indeed the catalyst that the Beatles were (they weren't) were only getting started.

[Steelharp]

I was on the road for 6 months with Tammy Wynette at that time; in the whirlwind of my own life at that moment, it was a sad addition to the daily events...

[-boatman-]

I remember it well. I was 24 years old and had been married for a year. Until Lennon died I had never given up hope that the Beatles would get back together but of course I had to face the fact that it would never happen.

[Sidinman]

Well I was 21, and not much of a Beetles fan, but couldn't believe someone would want to kill him. I don't really know where I was when I found out. May have heard it on the radio at work the next day. And to Sgt, Joe Dec. 8th was on a Monday.

[titan14]

Ted Nugent was one of the best live shows I ever saw - that guy had a LOT of energy. Of course, that was when both he and I were much younger.

Ted STILL has lots of energy...if you get a chance...go see him again.

[Curiousgb]

Breaking ice and moving buoys on the Great Lakes.

[gregintenn]

Second grade. I wasn't aware he was killed, nor did I know who he was.

[Guest mustangdave]

Like the OP...I was a young sailor on board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69...we were on our return voyage from the Indian Ocean in 1980 after spending what would be 255 days at sea during the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the failed Operation Eagle Claw...left Norfolk,VA 4/15/1908 returned 12/22/1980

[Guest Ae-35]

Like the OP...I was a young sailor on board the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN-69...we were on our return voyage from the Indian Ocean in 1980 after spending what would be 255 days at sea during the Iranian Hostage Crisis and the failed Operation Eagle Claw...left Norfolk,VA 4/15/1908 returned 12/22/1980

Man that was a LONG cruise !!!!

[7dogguy]

I was living in Owensboro Ky at the time. Got off 3rd shift and went to a friend's house after work. Picked up the paper in his front yard to take it in and saw the news. Went inside and we both just set there in shock. Spent most of the day watching CNN. I remember the Beatles the first time on Ed Sullivan, so I guess that makes me a dinosaur huh?

Guess we better avoid tar pits, cause I am right there with you. I remember a Christmas when my female cousin (a few years older than me) got Beatle dolls - so I know what you mean about the timeline and looking back. Seems like yesterday.

[7dogguy]

Man that was a LONG cruise !!!!

I remember guys I knew talking about that - I was in Okinawa when the hostages crisis happened; the Ranger was diverted from a port call in RP to the Gulf (I was on r and r in Subic Bay).

Crazy times and a you guys were sure as heck out there a looooonnnnnggg time.

[7dogguy]

Same here, I was too young.

Comparing Cobain to Lennon is a stretch, but for impact his short career had, it is not such a stretch. I think the comparison comes from extreme change that occurred in at that time, which Nirvana (rightly or wrongly) is credited with started. There were better bands of that era, both artistically and effectively, however Cobain and Nirvana will always be remembered the most.

The biggest contrast in the Lennon/Cobain comparison is that the Beatles had for intents and purposes already run their course, and affected the changes that occurred. Nirvana, if they were indeed the catalyst that the Beatles were (they weren't) were only getting started.

I remember Cobain very well also and he did have a huge impact. Another place I got to live courtesy of Uncle Sam was Washington state and Seattle in the mid-80s was a great place for music - I think the place we went to was the Offramp - been a while. Unlike Clapton, Tyler and many others who eventually cleaned up, riding that Horse with No Name did not work out for Cobain at all.

I also remember people being ugly to Cobain's widow at some of her shows afterward.

[7dogguy]

Ted STILL has lots of energy...if you get a chance...go see him again.

Yeah, he is great - have his music on my iPod; my body ages but my mind still lives in my 20s in some areas, LOL.